The present invention is directed to airless tires. Exemplary airless tires include a hub configured for attachment to an axle and includes a hub support extending away from the hub. Such exemplary airless tires also include a heel configured around the hub and connected at a distal end of the hub support, whereby the heel includes an elastomer base oriented in a ring around a circumference of the hub support. Such exemplary airless tires also include elastomeric tubes extending radially outward from the heel. Other exemplary airless tires include a centerless hub assembly configured for attachment to an axle and a heel configured around the centerless hub assembly. The heel in such exemplary airless tires includes an elastomer base oriented in a ring around a circumference of the centerless hub assembly. These other exemplary airless tires include elastomeric tubes extending radially outward from the heel.

A wheel assembly may include an inner rim to be coupled to the hub of the vehicle, and an outer rim surrounding the hub. The wheel assembly may also include gas springs operatively coupled between the inner rim and the outer rim to provide a gas suspension permitting relative movement between the inner rim and the outer rim. The wheel assembly may also include tread assemblies carried by the outer rim. Each tread assembly may include a tread member support coupled to the outer rim, and spaced-apart tread members carried by the tread member support and defining a tread pattern therebetween. Each tread member may include at least one rubber layer, and at least one reinforcing layer in stacked relation.

A wheel assembly may include an inner rim to be coupled to the hub of the vehicle, and an outer rim surrounding the hub. The wheel assembly may also include gas springs operatively coupled between the inner rim and the outer rim to provide a gas suspension permitting relative movement between the inner rim and the outer rim. The wheel assembly may also include tread assemblies carried by the outer rim. Each tread assembly may include a tread member support coupled to the outer rim, and spaced-apart tread members carried by the tread member support and defining a tread pattern therebetween. Each tread member may include at least one rubber layer, and at least one reinforcing layer in stacked relation.

Tire includes a casing with an interior, and the casing has an inside diameter. A fill is provided in the interior of the casing. The fill includes a first layer and a second layer adjacent to the first layer. The first layer has an outside diameter and an inside diameter, and the outside diameter is the same as the inside diameter of the casing for contacting the casing. The first layer has a face and open voids. The open voids of the first layer have a first volume and are open to the face. The second layer has an outside diameter that is the same as the inside diameter of the first layer. The second layer has a face and open voids, and the open voids of the second layer have a respective first volume and are open to the face.

An adjustable rim includes a first annular ring rotatable about a first axis, the first ring having radially extending first linear slots circumferentially spaced about the first ring, a first annular adjustment hoop rotatable about the first axis, the first hoop having circumferentially and radially extending first arcuate slots spaced about the first hoop, a second annular ring rotatable about a second axis, the second ring having radially extending second linear slots circumferentially spaced about the second ring, a second annular adjustment hoop rotatable about the second axis, the second hoop having circumferentially and radially extending second arcuate slots spaced about the second hoop, and an axially extending arcuate member having a first axial end and a second axial end. The first axial end is circumferentially and radially aligned with a first linear slot of the first annular ring and a first arcuate slot of the first annular hoop. The first linear slot and the first arcuate slot interact to move part of the arcuate member in only a radial direction.

A method of manufacturing an airless tire including a spoke unit includes a first step of injection-molding a first spoke part, a second spoke part, a third spoke part and a fourth spoke part in a disc-like shape. The method further includes a second step of forming a first spoke by fusing the first spoke part and the second spoke part. The method further includes a third step of forming a second spoke by fusing the third spoke part and the fourth spoke part, and a fourth step of forming the spoke unit by fusing the first spoke and the second spoke.

The present invention provides an annular beam of monolithic construction of one homogeneous material and a related efficient, low-cost non-pneumatic tire. Specific geometric design, combined with nonlinear elastomer physical properties, enable the suppression of all reinforcing belts, continuous fibers, or other strengthening layers in the annular beam. The annular beam consists of at least two bands that are continuous in the circumferential direction and connected by a web geometry. The non-pneumatic tire consists of the annular beam, a ground contacting portion, a central wheel, and a plurality of web spokes that connect the wheel and beam. When the tire is loaded to a design load against a flat surface over a design contact length, a contact area of essentially uniform pressure is produced, while the load is transmitted from the beam to the hub via tension in the web spokes. The tire can be economically manufactured.

A non-pneumatic tire defining axial, radial and circumferential directions, the non-pneumatic tire comprising an annular shear band (106) including an annular shear layer (252) comprising an elastomeric material, and a plurality of discrete, annular reinforcing elements positioned within the shear layer (252) along a plurality of axially-extending rows (254.sub.A, 254.sub.B, 254.sub.C, 254.sub.D, 254.sub.E) within a radial plane of the tire, the reinforcing elements having circular cross-sections along the radial plane of the tire, wherein along each row the reinforcing elements alternate between reinforcing elements (250.sub.D1) having a first diameter and reinforcing elements (250.sub.D2) having a second diameter that is less than the first diameter.

A tire member of a non-pneumatic tire is provided. An inner circumference of the tire member is provided with a mounting protrusion. Securing notches for securing the tire member to a rim are provided at two sides of where the mounting protrusion joins the tire member. A position fixing groove is provided at an inner circumference of the mounting protrusion. The position fixing groove has an annular structure; alternatively, the position fixing groove has an arc structure, and a plurality of the position fixing grooves having the arc structure are uniformly distributed at the inner circumference of the mounting protrusion in a circumferential direction. Two side walls of the position fixing groove are provided with several securing holes below the securing notches, respectively. The securing holes pass through the side walls of the position fixing groove, and partially coincide with securing notches at an outer side.

A method for manufacturing a wheel hub (300) for a non-pneumatic wheel (100). A sheet (332) of material may be folded, cut, bent, and otherwise processed to form portions of the desired wheel hub(300). The wheel hub (300) may be connected with an annular band (108) through load supporting members (106) that can be selectively connected and disconnected from the hub (300).